Analysis Of The Facebook Sonnet By Sherman Alexie

The poem “The Facebook Sonnet” by Sherman Alexie makes a connection between the public domain of Facebook and the loneliness that it can bring. It isAlexi stated in the final line of the poems that Facebook is an “altar of loneliness.” (line (“The Facebook Sonnet” 14). This phrase seems oxymoronic when contrasted with other lines in the poem, such as the “endless high school/reunion” (lines 1-2) in which “fame/and shame intertwine.” (lines 9-10). In this comparison, social media can be seen as a social construct, through which people are able to interact with others, but in the most isolated sense. While there is digital interaction, the use of Facebook eliminates face to face conversation and lacks personal presence. It is the final three words of the poem that allow the …show more content…
Through the use of diction, Alexie connects the terms, “altar” and “loneliness” with, “of”, which is used as a conjunction to connect the two words. The combined phrasing allows the term to become metaphorical for social media itself and the way it is viewed and used within society. Social media is fairly new and is mainly used by millennials, as well as younger generations. It is considered important and used for background research, to gain information about music groups or schools, and for many other purposes. In saying that Facebook is an “altar” (“The Facebook Sonnet” line 14), Alexie is also indicatingindicates that social media is seen as a form of confession and sharing; it is used to share snippets of thoughts and feelings with others individuals who